Hazards
THE BIG IDEA
“This topic is about natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, and fires. It looks at why they happen, why some people are more at risk than others, and how we can plan ahead to save lives and rebuild more effectively.“
CRUCIAL KEYWORDS
Hazard
A natural event that could be dangerous to people and buildings.
Vulnerability
How likely a group of people is to be badly hurt or lose their homes in a disaster.
Resilience
How quickly a place can ‘bounce back’ and get life back to normal after a disaster.
Primary Impacts
The damage that happens right away, like a building falling down during an earthquake.
How It Works
1) The Park Model
A graph shaped like a ‘U’ that shows how life gets worse immediately after a disaster and then slowly climbs back up as things are fixed.
2) The Hazard Management Cycle
A never-ending circle of planning: trying to stop damage, getting ready, helping survivors, and then repairing everything.
3) Plate Tectonic Theory
The idea that Earth’s crust is like a giant cracked eggshell with pieces that slide around on hot, liquid rock.
CASE STUDY EVIDENCE
- A massive earthquake in Haiti killed many people because the houses were not built strong enough to stay standing.
- A volcano in Iceland stopped planes flying all over the world, showing how a disaster in one place can affect everyone’s money.
- A giant storm flooded a city because the walls meant to hold the water back were too weak, mostly affecting the poorest people.
EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Don’t just say what people did to help; talk about whether it helped for a few days or for many years.
- Remember: a disaster is much worse if the people it hits are poor or don’t have a good plan.
- Always compare a rich country to a poor country to show how money helps people survive disasters.